Portable inflatable traffic diverting device



Oct. 8, 1957 v M. o. WElG ,808,80

PORTABLE INFLATABLE TRAFFIC DIVERTING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

Monms O.WE:1

rmmsy Oct. 8, 1957 M. o. WElG 2,808,803

' PORTABLE INFLATABLE TRAFFIC DIVERTING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvrok MORRIS QWEIG United States Patent PORTABLE INFLATABLE TRAFFIC DIV ERTING DEVICE Morris 0. Weig, Lynbrook, N. Y.

Application March 7, 1956, Serial No. 570,182

2 Claims. (Cl. 116-63) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in traific diverting devices or safety stanchions such as are set up on streets, roads and highways to route trafiic around workmen, freshly laid pavements, and freshly painted road lines or signs or the like and is an improvement over the devices disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial No. 444,744, filed July 21, 1954, now U. S. Patent 2,762,327, and Serial No. 449,899, filed August 16, 1954, nowU. S. Patent 2,762,328.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable, effective, traflic diverting device which can be compactly stored or stacked for transporting and which will not harm an automobile or other vehicle which by accident hits or runs over it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a traflic diverting device of this character with fixed and movable warning devices embodied therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trafiic diverting device with a hollow inflatable conical-shaped body having a novel base construction.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a conical-shaped traific diverting device with means to prevent buckling and/ or skidding of the base.

It is further proposed to produce a safety traflic diverting device which is simple in construction, non-destructible, easily manipulated and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a traflic diverting device constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention shown in operative inflated condition.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3, parts being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a developed view showing the blank from which the body of the device is formed.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. l, a trafiic diverting device 10 embodying the invention is shown in inflated operative condition, comprising a hollow and collapsible conical-shaped body 11 with a circular-shaped base 12 and a pointed top or apex portion 13. The body 11 is preferably formed from a blank 14 of thermoplastic sheet material as shown in Fig. 9, which material is preferably painted with a light-reflecting color such as yellow. The body may, of course, be formed of rubber or rubberized fabric or other suitable flexible material.

The blank when spread out flatwise as shown in Fig. 9 is formed with tapering side edges 15 and with an arcuateshaped bottom edge 16. At the top end of the blank, the side edges continue into narrow extensions 17. When the blank is folded so that its side edges meet, a conicalshaped body 11 is formed with the extensions 17 constituting flanges, projecting radially therefrom, at its top 13. The meeting edges of the blank are preferably arranged with their extremities projecting radially and sealed together by heat and pressure thereby forming a seam 18.

The base 12 is adapted to be placed on the surface of the ground or highway and suitably weighted in a manner hereinafter described to enable the body portion 11 to be disposed and remain in an upright position at all times and under all conditions.

The base comprises an inner circular plate 20 of suitable rigid plastic material closing the opening in the bottom end of the body 11, the bottom edge of the body being turned inwardly as indicated at 21 and secured to the top surface of the plate at its periphery by heat sealing or by a suitable adhesive. An outer reinforcing plate 22 of the same shape as plate 20 but of smaller dimension is positioned under and in contacting relation with the closure plate 20 for stiffening and reinforcing the base. This reinforcing plate may be formed of suitable plastic material, cardboard, wood or any other rigid material.

The plate 22 is held in assembled and reinforcing position by a circular piece of flexible thermoplastic sheet material 23 which envelopes the plate 22 and hasits peripheral edge 24 bent around the peripheral edge of plate 22 and secured to the underside of the closure plate 20, at its periphery, by either heat sealing or by a suitable adhesive. The outer surface of the cover sheet 23 is ribbed as indicated at 24, or may be otherwise roughened to prevent the device from skidding on its supporting surface.

The base 12 is reinforced by a tubular plastic ring 25 which is supported on the inner surface of the closure plate 20, the outer diameter of the ring being substantially the same as the closure plate 20. The ring is filled with sand 26 to add weight thereto so that the ring tends to weight the device down and make it stable.

The body 11 is formed with an opening 27 adjacent its top portion 13, which opening is plugged with a valve 28 for controlling the passage of air into and out of the body for inflating and deflating the same as will be understood.

In accordance with the invention, a warning flag 30 is attached to the body 11 at its top portion by positioning one end edge thereof between the flanges 17 and then subjecting said flanges with the flag therebetween to heat and pressure thereby fastening the parts together. The flag is thus held in secure condition and capable of being waved by the air currents. The flag is preferably colored red and the conspicuous mounting of the flag serves as a warning and enhances the warning potentialities of the device.

The invention also contemplates attaching light-reflecting plates or discs 31 to the body of the device. Two of such plates or discs are placed on opposite sides of the body 11 in vertical spaced relation. The plates or discs are formed of suitable rigid plastic material and are colored in contrast to the color of the body 11, and preferably are colored red. Each plate or disc 31 has a circular body with a peripheral flange 32 terminating in a flange 33 extending in the same plane as the body of the plate. The plates or discs are secured to the outer surface of the body 11 by fastening the flanges 33 thereof to the Patented Oct. 8, 1957 a N t, .2,sos,eos

3 body by a suitable adhesive 34. Light beams from appreaching vehicles will beam on the discs 31 and be refiected as a warning.

The safety device may be collapsed by deflating the conical body 11 through the valve 28, and when collapsed a plurality of them may be stacked in collapsed condition for storing or transporting.

The improved safety devices are readily visible from all directions, and their case of location makes them highly suitable in painting trafiic lanes, etc. Because of their resilient construction, the safety devices Will withstand considerable abuse and may be used for a long length of time, carried from job to job, and easily stored. It will be understood that their use is not restricted to highway application but they may be used Wherever a highly visible marker is needed, as for example, to indicate boundaries and runways of airplane landing fields.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A portable safety traflic diverting stanchion comprising a hollow conical inflatable body having a circular base and a pointed top, said base including a closure plate for the bottom of the body, a reinforcing plate underneath and in contact with said closure plate, said reinforcing plate being smaller in diameter than the closure plate, a cover secured to said closure plate enclosing said reinforcing plate, said cover having a roughened outer surface, underneath said reinforcing plate, and a weighted tubular ring supported on the closure plate inside the body, said ring being filled with sand.

2. A safety traflic diverting stanchion comprising a hollow conical inflatable body having a closure plate for the bottom of the body, closely-spaced integral flanges projecting radially from the body and extending along the top portion thereof, a warning flag secured at one end in the space between said flanges, light-reflecting discs on opposite sides of the body, intermediate the top and bottom thereof, in vertical spaced relation, said discs each being formed of plastic and being colored and having a peripheral flange fastened to the outer surface of the material of the body, and means for inflating and deflating said hollow body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,080 Overdofi July 16, 1940 2,658,467 Trapani Nov. 10, 1953 2,681,030 Hoge June 15, 1954 2,719,506 Sequiera Oct. 4, 1955 2,762,327 Weig Sept. 11, 1956 2,762,328 Weig Sept. 11, 1956 

